Dispensing device.



4 L. w. LUELLEN.

DISPENSING DEVICE.-

APPLICATION HLED DEC.19, l9l4.

1,261,950. Patented Apr. 9, 191:

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- WITNESSES: I a

' 11v ENTOR.

%4n& J Wi T O JQNEY.

L.,W. LUELLEN. DISPENSING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19, 1914.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- TIGE WITNESSES Wan/K Iran STATES PATENT onrics.

LAWRENCE W. LUELLEN, OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 1'0 INDIVIDUAL DRINKING CUP COMPANY/OF NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORIOBATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed December 19, 1914. Serial No. 878,086;

To all 10 ho-m it may can (761%! Be it known that I, LAWRENCE W. LUEL- LEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mountain Lakes, county of Morris, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensing Devices, of which the following, taken in connection. with the accompanying sheets of drawing, is a full, clear, and concise descrip-.

tion thereof.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in dispensing devices, that are particularly adapted to dispense paper drinking cups. In United States Letters Patent No. 1,043,85 l heretofore issued tome, a dispensing device for paper drinking cups is shown in which a cup reservoir and a supporting bracket nested stack of paper cups ina sanitary condition and inv such a position as to enable the cups to be conveniently and individually withdrawn, the terminal cup of the stack projecting beneath the device to be grasped by the hand of the user.

The present invention is an improvement on my said previous patented invention, and comprehends primarily mechanically operated means for separating the terminal cup from the superposed stack and moving the same to delivery position, while retaining the balance of-the cups within the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and improved form of bracket support which normally houses the terminal cup of the stack prior to its deliverance, said bracket support being provided with means for arresting tl-e descent of the terminal cup and retainingit in position whereby it can be conveniently grasped for removal. Other and further objects will manifest themselves upon a reading and understanding of the following description.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one preferable embodiment of my invention, I will proceed to describe the same,- having it understood that the form shown is illustrative, rather than definitive, as structural changes may be resorted to without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bracket support showing, generally, the cup separating and delivery instrumentalities in dotted outline, illustrating their relative positions.

Fig. 2 a view in side elevation taken on is used for storing a v 7 7 9,231, I have illustrated a paper line aa of Fig. 1, being broken away to illustrate more clearly the cup supporting ledges of the supporting devices, and their operative relationship tothe cup flanges.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2 to illustrate the structural characteristics of the top plate of the bracket showing the manner in which the cup separating and supporting instrumentalities cooperate therewith.

Fig. i is a cross-sectional view taken on line 0-0 of Fig. 2, illustrative of the manner in which the terminal cup of the stack is retained in delivery position.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line d-cl of Fig. 1 showing the position of the cup separating mechanism after functioning. I

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing in top plan the spring actuated re-setting mechanism for returning the delivery actuator and supporting instrumentalities to'their initial position.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of one of y per, which may be water-proofed by a coating of paraffin or similar substance. compactness and convenience of shipping and handling the cups are nested. Owing to the cohesive properties of the waterproofing material, it frequently cups become stucktogether. It is therefore, desirable to provide a mechanism which will overcome this tendency and positively separate them, one from the other. Thls accomplish by the vmechanism herein lllustrated, without'in any way marrlngor distorting the flanges of the cups. MllllOIlS of paraffincd paper drinking cupsare at present used annually, and, therefore, 111 this connection my invention possesses great utility.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. drinking provided with what I term a This cup is not waterproofed destructible than a cup which is rolled edge. and is more readily parafiined paper cup, desirable as CODdllClVG toward smgle use. The frailty and unsubstantial character of happens that two For a feature which is the part 2 for the purpose of replenishing the device with cups. The bracket part 3 is provided With a cylindrical extension or petticoat serving to house the lower portion of the terminal cup as Well as several of those superposed above it. The lower end of the housing is constricted as 5, forming a throat of slightly less internal diameter than the diameter of the flange the cup, so that the terminal cup, when it drops into delivery position (see Fig. Will be retained by the engagement of the cup flange with the throat, from which position the cup may be readily removed by a slight pull. The two-part bracket support is rec tilinear in outward form, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, excepting that portion which forms the petticoat or housing for the terminal cup, this being cylindrical. The part 2 of the support is provided With a bracket 6 cast integral therewithand serving to atvford means by which the device may be tastened to a support. t is also Provided with an upwardly extending circumferentially arranged flange 7 and an inwardly directec ledge or seat 8 both of which serve to support and retain the removable glass reservoir 1 in its proper position. The parts 2 and 3 are held. together by suitable screws, four in number, passing through alined aper tures 9. Both of these parts are cast in the special forms shown so as to provide the re quired seats for the accommodation of the actuating instrumentalities to be presently described. T he part 2 is cast with two pairs of projections 10, diametrically opposite to each other. lugs 11, through which the screws, fastening the parts together, pass, serve to form rectangularly disposed passages or channels along and through which the cup sustaining and delivery devices reciprocate during manipulation. The channels 12 accommodate the pair of cup supporting members 13, while the channels 14- accommodate the combination on sun ortin and delivery momaround three of its sides and partly around its i ourth leaving a gap 1? to acccrareservoir bei' removable rrom.

These. in combination Withthe modateand permit the movement of the handle 18 of the actuator ring 19. Within the space formed by theupwardly-extending wall 16 is a spring 20, one end of which is anchored to a lug 21 cast integral With the part 3. The other and opposite end of this spring is anchored to a corresponding lug 22, which projects beneath and is cast integral With the actuator ring 19. The spring 20 is located beneath the actuator ring 19, said actuator ring resting upon the annular projection 23. The spring 20 is put under tension when the handle 18 of the actuator ring has been operated, and serves to return the same to its initial position.

The actuator ring 19 is provided with two sets of diametrically opposed projections which engage and actuate the escapement mechanism consisting oi": the cupsupporting and separating members 18 and 15. These cup supporting and separating members are given a rectilinear movement along the channels in which they are located by the partial rotary movement oi the actuate ring 19, sufficient lost motion being allowed between the projections 2% and the depressions or apertures 25 of the cup-sup porting members to accomplish this. The cup supporting members 13 are positioned and move in opposite direction, but in arallel relation. The cup supporting and separating members 15 are similarly located and similarly move in the passages or channels provided therefor. The four members comprising the escapement mechanism are thus simultaneously actuated and move in definite relationship to dispense the cups one a time.

The cups are sustained Within the device by the rim oi the terminal cup, which normally rests upon projecting shelves or ledges 26 and 2? of the members 1? and 15. The members 13 normally are disposed diagonally opposite each other at the extreme end of their rectilinear travel when the dispensmg mechanism is inactive, prior to operation. The same may be said with respect to the members 15. In this position, as shown clearly in ig. 1, these shelves or ledges, which are all in a common plane project Within the annular dispenser opening of the device, and directly under the flange oi the lowermost cup. 'lhese sup porting ledges do not extend the length of the member, but terminate at a point near the center thereof, so that When the members travel the extreme length of their movement upon the rotation of the actuator ring, they pass beyond the cup dispenser opening so as to permit the flange of the terminal cup to pass and drop upon its egress from the device.

Understanding. that the bottoms of the paper cups are sli 'htly removed from their L flanges wi l ends,

consequently be spaced one from another when the cups are in nested position This spacing of the flanges of the cups affords an opportunity of providing a mechanism for dispensing the cups from the device individually or one at a time. As the shelves 26 and 27 of the members 13 and 15 move away from the delivery aperture, other shelves 28 and 29 of the members gral therewith and are located on a higher plane than the shelves 26 and 27, are projected into the delivery aperture underneaththe flange of the cup next succeeding the terminal cup, engaging the rim of the second cup and coming into substantial supporting position thereunder before the lowermost shelves 26 and 27 pass from beneath the flange of the terminal cup. IVhen the shelves 28 and 29 are in their full cup sustaining position, the lowermost shelves 26 and 27 have passed from beneath the flange of the terminal cup and have permitted the terminal cup to descend.

In the eventthat there should be slight adhesion between the cups, which would prevent the terminal cup from dropping by gravity after the lowermost shelves 26 and 27 have passed from beneath its flange, the ejecting mechanism which I have provided comes into action and operates to loosen or pry them apart by exerting a downward pressure upon the rim of the terminal cup, and this automatically as the device is operated. This ejecting mechanism is combined with a pair of the cup supporting members 15. Ther e being two of these mechanisms, both being of the same general construction, a description of one will suffice. Pivotally mounted on the carrier at 30 is an ejector 31 having a flange engaging part 32 which forms in inactive pos1tion,'

a prolongation of the shelf 29. This ejector ismounted so as to move downwardly within the member .15,which is made in channel form for the purpose. The pivoted end of the ejector 'is provided with a wedge surface 33, which engages an inclined lug 34 (see Fig. 5), when the member 15 has been moved to its extreme position under the rotation of the actuator ring 19. During this movement, the lug 34 forces the ejector 31 downwardly, bringing the part 32 into engagement withthe top of the rim of the terminal cup and pressing it downwardly, causing the terminal cup-to separate and drop by gravity. It will be noticed that this ejector does not start to move until the member 15 has almost reached the limit of'its movement and the supporting ledges or shelves 26 and 27 have passed from beneath the flange of the terminal cup. In order to retract the ejector 31 to normal inactive position, I mount a torsion spring 35 beneath having one end engaging the base of the member 15 and the other free end engaging 13 and 15, which are formed inteof distortion or the underside of the actuator, so that the actuator when moved to eject a cup, is operating against the tension of the spring. As the terminal cup passes from the supporting shelves of the members 13 and 15', and has been separated from the adjacent cup by the ejeetors 31, the cup descends or drops by gravity. The cup is halted in its descent by the engagement of its flange with the contracted. throat 5 of the bracket (see Fig. 4:). The cup is thus supported and retained in position with its major portion projecting beneath the device in position to be grasped by the hand. The proportions or diameters of the cup flange and the contracted delivery aperture or throat, need only be such as to aiford slight engagement between the two, because an individual cup has very little weight and no substantial point of contact need be necessary between the cup flange and the engaging throat of the device. The cup will be sustained in delivery position and will require but slight pressure to remove it, sothat. no possibility disfiguration of the cup or its flange will result due to flexure or otherwise.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An escapement mechanism for delivering singly cups provided with projections, including a member adapted to move rectilineally between the projections of adjacent cups, said member including relatively movable portions adapted to engage the projections of said adjacent cups to positively separate the same.

2. In an escapement for delivering singly cups provided with projections, a movable escapement member having a two-part ledge movable reetilineallybetween the projections of 'adjacent cups, the parts of said ledge being relatively movable and adapted to engage the projections of said adjacent cups respectively, J and means for moving said ledge parts relatively to each other to positively separate said cups.

3. In an escapement for delivering singly nested cups provided with projections, a movable escapement member having a portion adapted to separate a stack of'cups by engagement with the terminal cup thereof, and a second portion movable between the projections of jacent cup when the first portion of the.escapement is movedout of engagement with the terminal cup, said second escapement' portion including, a member movable relatively thereto and adapted to engage the terminal eups while said portion engages and supports the next to the terminal cup,

said movable member acting to forcibly detach the terminal cup from the stack 4. In apparatus the terminal cup and the ad for dispensing j-nes'ted' a a supo cups provided with projections, the combination oi a reservoir for holding the stack of cups, of escapement mechanism for delivering said cups one ata time, said escapement mechanism including a movable escapement member havinga portion adapted to engage the projections or" terminal cup and support the stack and having a twopart supporting surface adapted to enter between the projection of the terminal cup and a projection or" the adj cup, means for mov ng" said escapement member to carry the portion of the same upon which the projection of the terminal cup rests out f om under said projection and to move the divided supporting surface of said escapement member between the projection of the terminal and next to the'terminal cup, and means for mowing one portion of said vided surface downward after said s r has entered between the projections or a jacent cups so as to positively separate Stilt; terminal cup from the staclr.

5. an escapement for delivering singly cups provided with projections, movable escapement member provided with a supporting let no and a movable dog, said ledge and dog adapted to be moved between the projections of adjacent cups and adapted to engage the projections of said adjacent cups respectively, means for moving the dog into engagement with the projection of one cup to separate it from the adjacent cup, said means comprising a cam located in the path movement of said dog.

6. an apparatus of the character describ d, the combination of a cup reservoir, ort therefor, means carried'by said support for supporting a stack of nested. paperdriulzing cups, said means comprising pairs 01 escapement members atapted 0 move in a rectilinear direction, the menr ers of each. pair moving in opposite direcons. and common means for actuati g or said members simultaneously to permit the terminal cup of the staclr to move from lts terminal position in the stack.

7, An apparatus for dispensing paper drinking cups, comprising reservoir,

support therefor, said support being pro vided with cup supporting and delivery instrumentalities operating" to engage the cup flanges successively while releasing the cups from the stack individually, comprising two pairs oii escapement devices, the devices of each palr being arran ed in parallel relation and a rotatable actuator cooperatively associated with said members for imparting; a retilinear movement thereto.

8. The combination of a cup reservoir, a supporting bracket therefor, said supporting bracket being provided with an escapement mechanism, the members of which more in a rectilinear direction, and a l livery aperture or less diameter greatest diameter of the cups to be dispensed, said escapement members operating to separate the terminal cup from the stack and cause it to descend to its delivery positicn in engagement with the delivery aperture of the device.

9. ln an apparatus of the character described, an escapement mechanism comprising two pairs oi cup supporting members adapted in their normal position to engage the flange of the terminal cup of a nested stack of cups, means for imparting a rectilinear movement to said supporting devices to releasethe flange of the terminal cup and means carried by said members for engaging the top of the flange of the terminal cup to positively separate said cup from the stack and cause it to drop by gravity therefrom and means carried by said members for engaging the flange of the next succeeding cup to support the stack in its position within the device.

10. In a dispensing device for flanged paper cups, a removable cup reservoir, a sup porting bracket therefor, said supporting bracket being provided with an escapement mechanism which operates to dispense the cups individually, said mechanism comprisingtwo pairs of devices provided with lecges or shelves normally adapted to engage and support the flange of the terminal cup, means for imparting rectilinear movement to said members so as to translate said shelves from beneath the flange of the terminal cup and means carried by said members for engaging the flange of the next succeeding cup and supporting it in stacked position.

ll. a dispensing device for flanged paper cups, cup reservoir, a supporting bracket therefor, said supporting bracket bemy provided with an cscapement mecha n'sm which operates to dispense the cups individually, said mechanism comprising two pairs of rectilinearly' movable devices provided with ledges or shelves normally adapted to engage the flange or the terminal cup to support the cups within the reservoir, means for moving the members so as to translate 'said shelves out from beneaththe flange of the terminal cup and means carried by and translated by the movement of said members for engaging the flangeof the next succeeding cup to supportand prevent the same from being delivered from the stack, and means carried by certain or saio. members for positively separatin the terminal cup from the stack when the supporting means is removed from beneath its flange,

12. ln'a dispensing device for flange paper cups, the combination of a reservoir, 21

supporting bracket therefor, an escapement mechanism for delivering" the cuns from the voir individuallv. said mechanism comk "prising members provided with cup su'pporting ledges adapted to engage the underside of the flange of theterminal cup of the stack, a ring operably associated with said such rotation move said members. in a rectilinear direction, to remove the supporting ledges from beneath the flange of the terminal cup, and means carried. bv said members for su porting the balance of the stackduring the delivery of the terminal cup.

13. In a dispensing device for flanged paper cups, the combination of a reservoir, a supporting bracket therefor, an escapement mechanism for deliverin the cups from the reservoir individually, said mechanism comprising members provided with cup supporting ledges adapted to engage the underside of the flange of the terminal cup of the stack, a ring operably associated with said members and adapted to partiallv rotate and move said members in a rectilinear direction to remove thesupporting ledges from beneath the flange'of the terminal cup, and means carried by said members for supporting the balance of the stack during the delivery of the terminal cup, said means comprising ledges arranged at 'a' higher plane than the beforementioned ledges adapted to be moved beneath the flange of the succeedin cup of the stack to su ort it and the ba ance of the cups in the device as the ter: minal cup is being delivered.

14:. In a device of thd character described, the combination of a cup reservoir, a supporting bracket therefor, supporting and delivery instrumentalities comprising two pairs of members adapted to move in a rectilinear direction, an actuator ring adapted to be partially rotated cooperatively associated with said members, said members being provided with supporting ledges for engaging the flange of the terminal cup when in normal supporting position, and other ledges adapted to be brought into engagement with the flangeof the next succeeding cup when the lower ledges are moving from beneath the flange of the terminal cup and a spring associated with the actuator ring for returning the members to their initial position to release the cu from the upper ledges and permit it to d opppon the lower ledges and assume the terminal position of the dispensed cup. I y 15. In a cup vending machine, the combination of a stack supporting member, a cupdetaching member, and mechanism for moving said latter member intoa space between a pair of superimposed-cups and then moving the cup-detaching member relatively to the cup-supporting member to positively remove the lowermost cup.

16. In a dispensing device for paper cups, a plurality of stack supporting members ar- '65 ranged in'a horizontal plane and immovable i-nel'nbersadapted to partially rotate and by stack to cause discharge of said-cup,

. second said members.

therefrom, a plurality of delivery members movable relatively to the first said members for engagingwith a terminal cup of the stack tocause discharge of said cup, and means for actuating the second saidmemio bers. J

'17. In a dispensing device for paper cups, a plurality of stack supporting members arranged in a horizontal plane and immovable therefrom, a plurality of piv'otally mounted delivery members movable relatively to the first-said members for engaging with. a terminal cup of the stack to cause discharge of said cup, and means for actuating the second said members.

18. In a dispensing device for paper cups, a pair of substantially oppositely disposed stack supporting members arranged in a horizontal plane and restrained against possible movement out of said plane, a pair of substantially oppositely disposed members movable relatively to the first said members for engaging with a terminal cup of the and the manually operable means for actuating 19. In a dispensing device for paper cups, pair of substantially oppositely disposed stack supporting me bers arranged in a horizontal plane and restrained against possible moveme'ntout of said plane, a pair of substantially oppositely disposed pivotally mounted members movable relatively to the first said members for engaging with a terminal cup of the stack to causedischarge of said cup, and manually operable means for actuatlng the second said members,

-. 20. In a dispensing device for paper cups,

a pair of stack supportingledges having a contlnuous arrangeme' t in a horizontal plane, a pair of pivotally mountedcup de-. 1 livery fingers simultaneously movable relanation of a contalner may subsequently move to atively to said-ledges and into and out of engagement with a terminal cup of the stack,

and meansfor actuating said fingers into engagement'to assist in discharge of the terminal cup and out of engagement in order that the neirt successive cup of the stack I supported position onlsaid ledges. 21. Iii a cup vending machine, the combifor a stack of flanged nested drinking cups, a reciprocating member provided with primary and secondary supporting means, the primary su porting 196 means being adapted to support t e stack when said member is in normal position, and the secondary supporting'means being adapted to support the stack in an elevated parallel plane when said'reciprocating member is operated said reciprocating member being provided with relatively movable means for positively removing the lower cup approximately at the time, the stack is freed by said primary supporting means.

In a cup vending;machine, :1 container for a tack of nested cups, :1 meniier p1'0 vided with two sets of flanges the active portions of which are in superposed planes, one set of flanges constituting primary supporting means and, the other set of flanges constituting secondary supporting means, the primary supporting means being adapted to support the stack when said member is in normal position, and the secondary supporting means being adapted to support the stack in a, higher plane when the member is reciproea.zec. the flanges "which eonsziiute oi ownwardly prior to the recioroce ingmem- I I n her reaching the end of its travel.

In Witness whereof E have hereunto sei my hand inthe presence or" two subscribing 2 LUELLEN. 

